Circuit breaker operation counter



Dec. 25, 1951 J KRAFT 2,580,304

CIRCUIT BREAKER OPERATION COUNTER Filed July 23, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.l.

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WITNESSES:

Dec. 25, 1951 J. K. KRAFT CIRCUIT BREAKER OPERATION COUNTER 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 23, 1949 Fig.3.

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Patented Dec. 25, 1951 CIRCUIT BREAKER OPERATION COUNTER Joseph K. Kraft, Verona, N. J assignor to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application July 23, 1949, Serial No. 106,437

Claims.

This invention relates generally to electric circuit breakers, and more particularly to an arrangement for counting the number of breaker operations.

There are many reasons why it is desirable to record the number of times a circuit breaker operates. Thus, a servicing policy may require an overhauling of parts of the breaker after a certain number of operations, and in any event it is desirable to record the number of occurrences of overload on the circuit as evidenced by the number of operations of an automatic reclosing type of circuit breaker.

Mechanical types of counting devices are generally provided with an actuating arm having a one-way drive connection with the counting mechanism to actuate the same when the arm is moved in one direction, and being provided with a return spring for the arm. In the past, these devices have been subject to erratic operation when applied to circuit breakers, particularly circuit breakers of the type where the operating force for the breaker may be quite high, as this may cause overtravel of the counting mechanism. Another difficulty encountered in multipole circuit breakers where each pole may operate independently and has its own counting device, is that energy for operating the counting devices must be transmitted a considerable distance, and particularly on high speed operations of the breaker, the inertia of the motion transmitting means has been a factor in causing erratic operation of the counting devices.

Accordingly, one object of this invention is to provide a novel arrangement for operating counting devices for high speed circuit breakers.

Another object of this invention is to provide an arrangement for counting operations of a circuit breaker including a counting device having its own means for operating it to perform a counting operation and being returned preparatory to the next counting operation by the breaker operating mechanism.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an arrangement for counting operations of a circuit breaker, including a mechanically operated counting device remotely located from the breaker operating mechanism, with energy-storing means actuated by the breaker for accelerating the motion transmitting means connecting the counting device and breaker.

These and other objects of this invention will become more apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, when taken in connection with the attached drawings, in which:

Figure l is a transverse sectional view taken through a multipole automatic reclosing circuit breaker embodying this invention, and illustrating one of the pole units in section.

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Fig. 2 is a longitudinal partial sectional view of the multipole breaker shown in Fig. l, particularly illustrating the cover for the breaker container and mechanism contained therein.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken longitudinally through the breaker cover just below the top wall thereof and looking down into the breaker tank; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view of the underside of the hood on the cover of the circuit breaker shown in Figs. 1 to 3.

This invention is illustrated on the drawings as being embodied in a three-pole automatic type of reclosing circuit breaker which is identical with that disclosed in the application of J. M. Wallace and E. F. Beach Serial No. 103,898 filed concurrently herewith, and assigned to the same assignee as this invention. Accordingly, for a more detailed illustration and description of this particular type of circuit breaker, reference is hereby made to the aforesaid copending application of Wallace and Beach.

The particular circuit breaker herein disclosed comprises generally a metal tank 2, generally rectangular in form and having an open top. The tank 2 is preferably lined over the bottom, side and end walls substantially to the top thereof with sheet material l, preferably of insulating material such as fiber or the like.

A cover casting 6 for tank 2 has an integral channel formation 5 about the periphery thereof for receiving the upper edge of tank 2, preferably with a gasket 1 interposed therebetween for sealing purposes. Integral slotted lugs 9 are provided on cover casting 6 for the reception of bolts to secure the cover casting on tank 2.

Each of the three pole units 8 (only two of which are shown), which are srpported within the tank from cover 6 are identical in form, and consequently only one will be described in detail. Moreover, these pole structures are substantially identical with that described in the copending application of J. M. Wallace and A. W. Edwards, Serial No. 8,044, on Circuit Interrupters, filed February 13, 1948, and assigned to the same assignee as this invention.

Each pole unit is adapted to be supported in tank 2 from cover casting 6 by means of a p 11- rality of integral supporting lugs I2 (Fig. 1) inside the cover and depending from the to wall thereof and adapted to engage spacer sleeves N1 of insulating material which are suitably secured to supporting lugs I 2 and to a supporting casting 20. A supporting plate 22 may be supported from casting 20, so that a solenoid coil 24 may be mounted between casting 26 and supporting plate 22, with the central opening in the coil aligned with openings provided in casting 20 and plate 22. Supporting casting 20 and supporting plate 22 together with the bolts (not shown) securing them together, are of a magnetic material, such as iron or the like, to complete a magnetic circuit of low reluctance outside of solenoid coil 24, and which terminates at opposite ends of the central opening through the coil in which the Working air gap of the coil is located.

Spaced stationary contacts 26 of the breaker are supported within an insulating tube 28 at the lower end thereof, and on opposite sides of the tube, respectively. Tube 253 which may be of any desired insulating material, such as fiber or the like, is supported at its upper end from plate 22 by supporting brackets 3% which are welded or otherwise secured to plate 22, and have screws for securing tube 23 thereto, with the upper end of tube 23 being closely adjacent to, but spaced from plate 22. Stationary contacts 25 are each mounted on its own supporting bracket 32, with each bracket having a U-shaped portion for receiving the lower edge of the tube 28 and being secured thereto as by a bolt 35. iube 28 has opposed vent openings in opposite sides, located directly above stationary contacts 26, respectively, for a purpose to be described.

A bridging contact as is secured on the lower end of contact actuating rod 14, and when the latter is moved upwardly from the position shown in Fig. 1, the circuit will be interrupted within arc extinguishing tube 28 in. the manner particularly described in the above-mentioned copending application of Wallace and Edwards.

The upper end of contact actuating rod id has connecting links of insulating material such as fiber, pivoted thereon as by a pivot pin 68, with the upper ends of these connecting links mounted on a common pivot pin 58' for a pair of toggle levers 52 and 54. Toggle levers 52 and 54 are both formed of sheet material, with lever 54 being bent to substantially channel form with outwardly extending flanges 55 adapted to be received at the free ends thereof in recesses 58 provided in the spaced downwardly depending fingers of an angled supporting bracket 5!! which, in turn, is secured as by screws to a lug 62 integral with the cover casting. A coil tension spring 68 has one end hooked into an opening provided in toggle lever 52, and has the opposite end thereof hooked over an integral spring support 5 3 on the cover casting. Toggle lever 52 has an integral hook portion 55 passing through an opening in lever 54 to limit separation of the levers.

it will be observed that in the closed circuit position of the breaker illustrated on the drawings, the line or" action of toggle spring 63 is be- 5- low the pivot supporting recesses 53 for toggle lever 54, and accordingly, the toggle spring actsv to bias bridging contact 36 into engagement with stationary contact 26 of the breaker, under a predetermined pressure. However, as soon as contact operating rod (it moves upwardly to sepa rate the bridging contact from the fitted contacts of the breaker, toggle lever 5 will pivot about recesses 58 and the line of action of toggle spring 68 will thus be caused to approach that pivot point so that in response to a very small contact separation, the line of action of toggle spring $8 will pass through pivot recesses 58 which is the on-center position of the resilient toggle arrangement comprising toggle levers 52 and 5 and toggle spring 83. As a practical matter, the opening movement of the contacts necessary to move toggle levers 52 and 54 to the on-center position mentioned above may be made very small, in one actual device being on the order of aim-quarter.

of an inch. When toggle levers 52 and 54 reach their on-center position referred to above, further relative movement of the two toggle levers in the same direction is prevented because the upper edge of toggle lever 52 engages the base of the central channel formation of toggle lever 54. Moreover, since the point at which toggle spring 68 is hooked into lever 52 then substam tially coincides with recesses 58 in which toggle lever 54 pivots during contact opening movement, it will be apparent that the remainder and major part of contact opening movement will occur substantially uninfluenced by toggle spring 68.

Substantially the reverse of the above opera tion occurs when contact operating rod 84 moves downwardly to close. the circuit from the full open; contact position, because during the first and major part of contact closing movement, levers 52 and 56 will be in engagement so that such movement will be uninfluenced by toggle spring 63. However, as soon as pivot 59 passes below a line drawn from the remote end of toggle spring 68 through pivot recesses 58 for link 54, toggle spring 68 will then be effective to move the toggle levers toward the position shown in Fig. 1, and the force exerted by toggle spring 68 thus tending to close the contacts will continue to increase as toggle levers 52 and 54 move further away from their on-center positions.

Solenoid coil 24 previously mentioned, is adapted to be energized under certain conditions for automatically opening the circuit breaker contacts. The central opening through coil 2 preferably is provided with a cylindrical sleeve i i in which a solenoid core it is adapted to be slidably mounted in a piston-like manner. A washer 18, which may be of insulating material, is secured to contact rod t4 immediately above bridging contact 35, as by a split securing ring 88 mounted in a groove formed on rod 3 and core 15 has an enlarged piston flange Si at the lower end thereof having a fiat annular end surface adapted to seat on washer it at the closed position of the parts illustrated on thedr'awings. It will be observed that solenoid coil 2 is spaced from supporting plate 22 by the apertured flange 84 of a sleeve '19 which is received in the lower end of dashpot cylinder sleeve E i. Depending from flange 54 of sleeve 19 is cylindrical skirt which extends through the opening in supporting plate 22 about core it and into tube 26. The purposes and operation of these structures will be hereinafter described A contact actuating sleeve t2 telescope'dover contact actuating rod 54 and its lower and is received in core '56 preferably being tiir'eadably mounted therein. A coil compression spring St is provided within actuating sleeve 82 on Contact actuating rod 4t and it is adapted to react between core 16 and a collar secured to actuating rod 44 by a pin 58 extending transversely through actuating rod 44.

The circuit through the pole unit of the circuit breaker thus far described may now be traced from the points where it enters tank 2 through one of a pair of bushings provided for each pole unit and adapted to be mounted on the pair of integral bushing supports as on top or" cover 5. One conductor 98 may extend directly from one bushing of the pole unit to one fixed contact 25 of the unit. When the contacts are in engagement, the circuit then proceeds through bridging contact 3% to the other fixed contact 26, and then by way'of a conductor we to one terminal Q s leneid The other terminal of solenoid 24 is adapted to be connected by a conductor I02 to the other bushing structure of this pole unit. It will be apparent that solenoid coil 24 is connected in series in the circuit through the contacts of its pole unit so as to be energized at all times an amount dependent upon the value of current flowing in the circuit of such pole unit.

As in the previously mentioned copending application of Wallace and Edwards, a lightning arrester device IOI may be connected between conductors I00 and I02 and across coil 24 for the purpose of protecting the latter against overvoltages such asthose caused by lightning surges and to prevent false operation of the pole unit on such overvoltages.

For any given rating of circuit breaker, solenoid coil 24 is designed to become sufiiciently energized when the load current in thecircuit exceeds its rating as to attract core I6 and move it upwardly within sleeve I4. Assuming the upper end of sleeve 14 to be closed so fluid cannot escape, core 15 will move upwardly, retarded by the necessity for displacing the liquid in sleeve 14 above the core through the relatively small clearance between the core and sleeves I4 and 82. Accordingly, opening movement of the core will be slowed up by the aforesaid dashpot action an amount determined by the current value of the overload, and, therefore, an inverse timecurrent characteristic on opening is obtained. As core I6 commences its upward travel, bridging contact 36 being held engaged by toggle spring 68 does not move, so that spring 86 is compressed until the upward force of the spring 86 is surficient to overcome the force exerted by toggle spring 68, at which time contact actuating rod 44 will start to move upwardly. As soon as actuating rod 44 moves upwardly, the force exerted by toggle spring 68 begins to decrease and in a very short distance has substantially no value at all, so that the remaining major part of the circuit opening movement of bridging contact 36 occurs extremely rapidly due to expansion of spring 85. Collar 89 is provided on rod 44 to obtain a positive contact separationin the event there is any sticking or welding of the bridging contact to stationary contacts 26, by engagement therewith of a shouldered sleeve 3| mounted in the upper end of actuating sleeve 82. In either case, it is apparent that toggle levers 52 and 54 will be moved to their on-center position in the manner previously described, and bridging contact 38 will be moved by spring 85 to its full open circuit position.

When the breaker contacts have attained their full open circuit position, the parts associated therewith are biased to return by gravity. This closing bias is relatively light and will be opposed by the dashpot action of core 16. Accordingly, the return movement will be relatively slow until pivot point 50 moves below the line of action of toggle spring 68 when toggle levers 52 and 54 a e in engagement, whereupon bridging contact 36 will be rapidly moved to effect a snap-action closing the breaker contacts by toggle spring 68. It will be observed that during circuit closing movement of dashpot core 16, the dashpot action is due to the necessity of supplying liquid to the upper end of the dashpot through the relatively small clearance between core 16 and sleeves I4 and 82.

order that gases generated in tube 28 during circuit interruption do not find their way up through skirt 85 on sleeve 19 into the dashpot space, especially during the-first part of a circuit closing operation when there may be a transient pressure condition within container 2 due to the preceding circuitinterrupting operation, the vents in flange 84 of sleeve 19 are provided so that the intake at the lower end of dashpot sleeve 14 is located above supporting plate 22 and consequently at a point where any gases present within tube 28 cannot enter the dashpot space.

In order to provide for lockout of the breaker, a counting member I4 is provided as in the abovementioned copending application of Wallace and Edwards, with this counting member having a piston member at the lower end received in the cylinder I6, and with the counting member adapted to be advanced on each circuit opening operation of its pole unit by means of an actuating lever I 8 having a pawl member 38 thereon which is engageable with counting member I4 when the outer end of lever I8, which rests on a washer 29 supported on a shoulder of sleeve 3|, is raised. It is believed apparent that when the circuit is opened and actuating sleeve 82 is raised, that the outer end of actuating lever I3 will be raised to cause engagement of pawl 38 with counting member I4 to raise the latter a predetermined amount, all as more particularly described in the above-mentioned copending application. As also pointed out in such application, counting member I4 will slowly reset downwardly following a circuit closing operation when it is released from pawl 38, and ultimately turn to its original position in the event the pole unit remains closed. However, if the overload still remains on the circuit when the pole unit recloses, its counting member I4 will be advanced a further amount since the unit will immediately reopen the circuit. Counting member I4 thus counts only closely successive opening operations of its pole unit, and ultimately resets to its original position in the event no overload is present on the circuit on any particular reclosing of its pole unit.

One purpose of counting member I4 may be as described in the above-mentioned, cop-ending application of Wallace and Edwards to control the outlet from dashpot sleeve 14 through passage 40 to exit opening 42, dependent upon the amount counting member I4 is advanced from its normal lowermost position. Thus one arrangement may be as disclosed in the aforesaid copending application, where passage 40, 42 is not normally blocked by counting member It so that at least the first circuit opening operation occurs quite rapidly, inasmuch as fluid displaced by solenoid core I5 during its ascent is freely discharged from opening 42. However, on subsequent circuit opening operations in any series of closely successive opening operations counting member I4 will rise to a point where a portion thereof blocks passage of fluid through openings 40, 42 so that later closely successive circuit openings of the breaker will be delayed due to the dashpot action of the core I6 in sleeves I4 and 82.

Another function of counting member I4 is to cause the contacts of all pole units of the breaker to be located at open circuit position whenever any pole of the breaker has gone through a cycle of predetermined number of closely successive circuit opening operations. For this purpose, there is provided a lookout spring 56, which is a coil tension spring anchored at one end on a lug I0 integral with the cover casting, and hooked through an apertured lug I! at its other end, which lug is provided integral with one end of a lockout bar 12. The lockout bar 12 is adapted to be supported from inverted U-shaped supports 92 which are secured to lugs 52 on the top wall of the cover casting, and in turn each pivotally supports a U-shaped bracket 94 having legs unequal in length. Each bracket 92 has its legs pivoted to the legs of its support 92 as at 96, with the short leg of bracket 92 located within support 92 adjacent one leg thereof, and with the long leg of bracket 94 located outside support 92 and carrying at its outer end a pin I62 rotatably supporting lockout bar I2. There is a support s2, and bracket 94 supporting lockout bar 72 at each pole unit.

Lockout bar 12 is normally latched at one extreme position wherein lockout spri g 58 is held in a stressed condition by toggle links I26 and I08 (Fig. 2). Toggle link I96 is pivoted to the adjacent end of lockout bar 22 as at I2 and is joined to toggle link I38 by a knee pivot I II), with toggle lever Hi8 being mounted on rotatable operating shaft II2 mounted in the cover casting. It will, be observed that toggle levers I55 and Illll normally occupy a position where their knee pivot III) is slightly below a line connecting pivot I22 and the axis of operating shaft I I2, and it is prevented from going any further below this position by a manual operating handle Iii; also secured on operating shaft I I2 (Fig. 3). Handle H8 is not located Within the hollow cover structure 6, but operating shaft H2 extendsfrom a point within the hollow cover structure wh i is connected to toggle lever I28, through a separate compartment H4 the cover structure, and into the space beneath an integral hood structure I I 6. It is the engagement of handle I IS with the top wall of hood structure I It which prevents clockwise rotation of actuating shaft I I2 beyond the position shown in Fig. 2. Handle I I3 may have a particular formation (not shown) at its outer end to facilitate engagement and operation thereof by a hook stick or similar manually operable tool, and since handle H8 at the position of the parts illustrated on the drawings is entirely located within and concealed by hood structure H 6, the latter has a side opening I2Il provided so that access may be had to the handle for the purpose of manipulating the same.

It is now apparent that if handle H8 is pulled downwardly to cause rotation of actuation shaft H2 in a counterclockwise direction as shown in Fig. 2. knee pivot H0 of to gle levers I06 and I08 will be moved upwardly overcenter and thus permit lockout spring 65 to move lockout bar to its extreme position at the left. or course when lockout bar "i2 moves to the left and downwardly as viewed in Figs. 2 and 3, respectively, it will cause rotation of lockout brackets M in a counterclockwise direction, and since the bight portions of these brackets lie underneath toggle levers 52 and Whichare connected to contact actuating rod M, such portions of brackets 94 will engage their respective toggle levers 52 and 54 during such counterclockwise movement of the brackets to raise actuating rods 44 to an upper position wherein bridging contact 36 of the corresponding pole unit is held at an open circuit position separated from fixed contacts 26. Moreover, after the contacts have been opened by moving handle H8 downwardly as described above. they may be closed by mo ng handle I l .8 upwardly in a reverse directi n. This will move knee pivot III! bac downwardly overcen cr to the position shown in Fig. 2, and restore lockout bar I2 and lockout brackets 94 to the positions they normally occupy shown in la 2, wh re they do not interfere with automatic movement of any "parts of the respective pole units which move during circuit opening and closing operations of the respective pole units.

Returning now to' the mechanism which is adapted to automatically cause the contacts of all pole units of the circuit breaker to be maintained at open circuit position in response to a predetermined number of closely successive circuit opening operations by any given pole unit; there is provided a shaft I22 which extends longitudinally across the top of all of the pole units, being rotatably supported in journal tabs I24 angularly bent out integrally from U-shaped supports 92. As shown, a positioning collar I26 is secured on shaft I22 to limit longitudinal movement of the shaft to the right as viewed in Fig. 2, due to engagement of collar I with the adjacent journal tab I24, and a plurality of cranks I28 are also secured on shaft I22, with one of these being located adjacent the journal tab I as at the extreme left on Fig. 2, to limit lone gitudinal movement of shaft I22 in the other direction. Each ofthe other cranks I28 are lo.-

' cated above the counting member Id of one of the pole units, so that when any of the counting members I I are advanced a sufficient amount they will engage the corresponding vcrank I28 and cause rotation of shaft I22 in a clockwise manner as viewed in Fig. 1. Such clockwise Nth: tion of shaft I22 causes thecrank I28 at the left-hand end of the shaft as viewed in Fig. 2 to raise pin I32 mounted intermediate the ends of an actuating lever I32 which is pivoted as at I34 (Fig. 3) on an angled supporting bracket I36 supported from a lug I38 integral with the top wall of cover casting 6. Inasmuch as the free end of actuating lever I32 lies beneath toggle lever I08 closely adjacent knee pivot III), it is apparent then that rotation of shaft I22 by en! gagement of a crank I28 by its counting member I4, will raise knee pivot I II) of lockout levers I06 and I08 upwardly overcenter to thus release lockout spring 66 and permit it to move lockout bar E2 to its extreme position of movement to the left, wherein the movable contacts 36 of all of the pole units will be held at an open circuit position. It is thus apparent that when the counting member Id of any of the pole units is advanced an amount suiiicient to engage its corresponding crank I28 due to a predetermined number ofclosely successive circuit opening op,- erations, that the contacts of all pole units of the breaker will be moved to and held at their open circuit position, until they are manually restored by raising handle H8. Moreover, such automatic lockout operation causes handle II8 to be projected downwardly from hood structure M8 to thus provide a readily visible indication of the circuit breaker. As stated above, such lockout condition of the breaker will automatically take place even if but a single pole of the breaker automatically operates through the predetermined number of closely successive operations necessary to advance its counting member I i into engagement with its corresponding crank I28, and even though the contacts of all the other pole units have remained closed and never have opened.

There is also provided a means for indicating which of the poles has caused the circuit breaker to aut m tically attain i lockou condition. and such means includes an indicating lever I49 for each pole of the breaker, with such-levers being pivotally mounted at I42 on a pivot support I43 secured across an opening in one side of cover structure 6. Each indicating lever I40 extends through the adjacent opening in cover 6 and is provided at its'outer end with a substantially circular target formation I44. At its inner end, indicating member I46 has a transverse pin I46 which lies beneath crank I28 for that particular pole structure, and lies immediately above counting member it for its pole structure. Indicating lever I40 is normally maintained at the position illustrated in Fig. 4 by a coil tension spring I48 having one end hooked over pin I46 and the other end anchored to the cover 6. It will be observed that the outer end of indicating lever I40 is thus normally positioned entirely within and concealed by an integral hood structure I50 at the corresponding side of cover casting 6, so as to be normally concealed from view.

It will now be apparent that upon the counting member IA of any of the pole units being advanced an amount suflicient to actuate its corresponding crank I28 that it will at the same time engage pin I45 of its indicating lever I40 and simultaneously cause rotation of such lever in a clockwise direction as viewed from below in Fig. 3 to thus project the target I44 of the lever to a position where it extends beneath its hood I59 and thus provides a readily visible indication of which of the pole units has operated to automatically cause a lookout condition of the circuit breaker.

Cover compartment II4 may contain auxiliary equipment such as a control swtich I5I having an operating plunger I49 positioned to be operated by the angularly directed end I59 of a coil spring I51 mounted on handle shaft I I2 and having the opposite end of the spring suitably anchored to the shaft. Switch I5! will be actuated when the circuit breaker is locked open and may control an electric circuit containing a signalling device, or the like.

In order to count the number of operations of the contacts of each pole of the circuit breaker, there are provided three counting devices I52, one for each of the three poles of the breaker. Counting devices I52 are preferably rouped together at one end of the cover structure within a hollow extension portion thereof which overhangs the adjacent end of tank 2. A supporting plate I54 is adapted to have counting devices. I52 mounted thereon in spaced relation as by screws I55, with the plate being secured over an opening in the bottom portion of the hollow cover structure, as by screws I41. Plate I54 has relatively small openings I53 (Fig. 2) lined up with each of the counting devices so that they may be visible from the exterior.

Each of counting devices I52 is provided with a rotatable actuating arm I56 which has a oneway drive connection, as by a pawl I58 and ratchet I50 with countin means mounted within each of the counting devices. Accordingly, as viewed in Fig. 2, each counting device I52 will be actuated to count one operation when its actuating arm I55 is moved in a counterclockwise direction to the left, and the arm will reset preparatory to the next counting operation when it is moved clockwise to the right.

Since the breaker herein described acts with extreme rapidity, particularly on its operations where dashpot sleeve 14 is Vented, and since the force available, at least on a circuit opening operation, may vary considerably in accordance with the overload encountered on the circuit, such force is not employed to operate countin devices I52 on a counting operation, but instead each of the devices has an individual counting spring I62, I64 and I66 engaging between the outer end of actuating arm I56 of each device and an anchoring rod I68 which may be supported between supporting ears I10 formed integral with the casing cover. As illustrated on the drawings, the counting springs are relatively light springs, it being necessary only that they operate actuating arms I56, and they should not be too heavy in order that the counting mechanisms be not actuated too rapidly to cause overtravel with respect to the counting arms, and consequent erratic operation.

Each actuating arm I56 is connected to the moving contact of one pole of the breaker by an accelerating spring I12 which is connected between the arm and a terminal member I14 secured to one end of a flexible bead chain I16. The bead chains I16 are constructed in a conventional manner and comprise a number of metal beads each secured to the next for limited movement in a plurality of difierent angular directions. Each bead chain I16 extends through its own guide tube I18 to the outer end thereof which is turned downwardly as at I86 adjacent one of the pole structures. The outer end of each bead chain has a terminal fixture I82 secured thereto, and this, in turn, is secured to pivot 56 at the upper end of links 46 so as to move with contact rod 44. Guide tubes I18 for the bead chains are preferably supported on brackets 184 secured to lugs 02 by the means securing U- shaped supports 92 to the lugs.

Counting devices I52 are illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 at the positions they occupy when the circuit breaker is closed, and. at this position accelerating springs I12 are stressed, as are counting springs I52, I64 and IE6. However, acceleratin springs I12 are much stronger than counting springs I02, I64, and I66, so that when the circuit breaker opens at one or more of its poles, actuating arm I55 of the counting device for that pole or poles does not move during initial upward movement of the contact of that pole or poles, because its accelerating spring I12 uses the initial part or contact opening movement to accelerate its bead chain, and it is only after its accelerating spring I12 reaches its relaxed condition that its counting spring I62 is freed to move its actuatin arm I56 and perform a counting operation. At the time when counting spring I62 is rendered effective, it will be observed that the accelearting spring for that counting device has already initiated movement of the bead chain connecting it to its movable contact so that the counting spring is not retarded by the inertia of the bead chain, and at most merely needs to overcome kinetic energy of the latter in addition to moving the counting mechanism. After the circuit has been opened, and one or more of the movable contacts start to reclose, it will be remembered that contact pressure spring 68 exerts substantially no closing force on its movable contact at the lully opened position of the latter, and further that such initial closing movement of the movable contact merely has to stress the relatively light counting spring I62, I64 or I66 applied thereto. Moreover, the point at which the appropriate accelerating spring I12 is stressed is correlated with the point at which appreciable contact closing force is exerted by the contact pressure spring 68, which will then have sumcient energy to stress the accelerating spring.

asses It is believed apparent from the foregoing that this invention provides a counting arrangement for circuit breakers, particularly circuit breakers of the automatic reclosing type wherein a predetermined relatively light force is always provided to operate the counting device in its counting operation. Moreover, a separate accelerating spring is provided for accelerating the mechanical motion transmitting means connecting each counting device to a part of the circuit breaker whichinoves with the movable contact, to accelerate such motion transmitting means during circuit opening before the counting operation occurs, to thus relieve the counting springs from the necessity of accelerating the motion transmitting means, and the accelerating springs are further arranged to be charged only at that portion of the reclosing movement of the circuit breaker contact where the greatest reclosing force is available.

Having described a preferred embodiment of this invention in accordance with the patent statutes, itshould be understood that this invention is not limited to the particular circuit break er construction herein illustrated, as it will be apparent that it may be employed with various other types of circuit breakers than that di closed herein.

I claim as my invention:

1. Operation counting means for acircuit breaker having separable contacts and electromagnetic means for separating said contacts at a high speed comprisinga counting device, an oscillatory drive member for said device having a one-way drive connection therewith, means normally biasing said drive member to perform a counting operation, and a mechanical connec tion of said drive member and a part movable with a part of said breaker for resetting said drive member.

2. Counting apparatus for a circuit breaker having separable contacts and electromagnetic means for separating said contacts at a high speed comprising, a, counting device, an oscillatory drive member for said device having a one-way drive connection therewith, means biasing said drive member to perform a counting operation, a mechanical connection of said drive member and a part m'ovable with said breaker for resetting said drive member, and an accelerating spring in said mechanical connection adjacent said drive member for accelerating elements of said mechanical connection and thus relieving said biasing means of the accelerating load.

3. A counter for a circuit breaker having sepa rable contacts and electromagnetic means for separating said contacts at a high speed com= prising, a counting device, an oscillatory drive member for said device having a one-way drive connection therewith, means normally biasing said drive member to perform a counting op- I nectidn therewith, means biasing said drive item bar to perform a counting operation, a mechani cal connection of said drive member and a part movable with a part of said breaker for resetting said drive member, an accelerating spring in said mechanical connection adjacent said drive member for accelerating elements of said me chanical connection and thus relieving said biasing means of the accelerating load, and means for loading said accelerating spring at the point in closing movement of said contacts where the force exerted by said closing means is a maxi- 5. In counting, apparatus for a circuit breaker having separable contacts and electromagnetic means for separating said contacts at a high speed, a counting device, an oscillatory driver member for said device having a one-way drive connection therewith, means biasing said drive member to perform a counting operation, a flexible bead chain mechanically connecting said drive member and a part movable with apart of said breakerfor normally rendering the b1asing means inefiective and for resetting said drive member.

6. Counting apparatus for a multipole circuit breaker having separable contacts for each pole thereof and means individual to each pole for separating the contacts of its pole independent of the other poles comprising, counting devices for each of said poles, respectively, located in a group at one side of said breaker, each of said counting devices including an oscillatory drive member having a one-way drive connection with the counting device, means normally biasing said drive members to perform a counting operation, and separate mechanical connections of said drive members and parts movable with the contacts of said poles, respectively, for resetting said drive member.

7. Operation counting means for a multipole circuit breaker having separable contacts for each pole thereof and means individual to each pole for separating the contacts of its pole independent of the other poles comprising, counting devices for each of said poles, respectively, located in a group at one side of said breaker, each of said counting devices including an oscil latory drive member having a one-way drive connection with the counting device, means biasing said drive members to perform a counting operation, and separate mechanical connections of said drive members and parts movable with the contacts of said poles, respectively, for resetting said drive member, energy storing means in each oi said mechanical connections adjacent the respective drive members for accelerating elements of the respective mechanical connections and thus relieving said biasing means of the accelerating load.

8. An operation counter for a multipole circuit breaker having separable contacts for each pole thereof anad means individual to each pole for separating the contacts of its pole independ ent of the other poles, and a container for said circuit breaker and its operating mechanism comprising, counting devices for each of said poles, respectively, located in a group at one side of said container and being visible through an opening at the exterior of said container, each of said counting devices including an oscillatory drive memberhaving' a one-way drive connection with the counting device, means biasing said drive members to perform a counting operation, and separate mechanical connections of said drive members and parts movable with the contacts of said poles, respectively, for rendering the biasing means effective and resetting said drive member. 1

9. In counting apparatus for counting operations of a multipole circuit breaker having separable contacts for each pole thereof and means individual to each pole for separating the contacts of its pole independent of the other poles, said breaker having a container with a removable cover and means supporting the contacts and breaker operating mechanism in said container from said cover, counting devices for each of said poles, respectively, located in a group at one side of said breaker and supported in a portion of said cover having an opening to the exterior so that said devices are visible from the exterior, each of said counting devices including an oscillatory drive member having a one-way drive connection with the counting device, means biasing said drive members to perform a counting operation, and separate mechanical connections of said drive members and parts movable with the contacts of said poles, respectively, for opposing said biasing means and resetting said drive member.

10. An operation counter for a multipole circuit breaker having separable contacts for each pole thereof and means individual to each pole for separating the contacts of its pole independent of the other poles, said breaker having an elongated container with a removable cover, and means supporting the contacts and operating mechanism for said poles in longitudinally spaced relation in said container from said cover comprising, counting devices for each of said poles, respectively, located in a group at one end of said container in the cover thereof which has an opening to the exterior through which said counting devices are visible, each of said counting devices including an oscillatory drive member having a one-way drive connection with the counting device, means biasing said drive members to perform a counting operation, and separate mechanical connections of said drive members and parts movable with the contacts of said poles, respectively, for opposing said biasing means and resetting said drive member.

JOSEPH K. KRAFT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 755,592 Butler Mar. 22, 1904 803,340 Hewlett Oct. 31, 1905 2,333,604 Wallace Nov. 2, 1943 2,442,477 Wallace June 1, 1948 2,476,076 Walle et a1 July 12, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 404,788 Germany Oct. 23, 1924 

